Indravelli's victims shun outside world

The incident of police firing against Adivasis seems to have changed the Adivasis’ perception of police, forest officials and non- tribal; this is very much evident today.

Adivasi leaders say they have failed to ascertain the information regarding the deaths of the kith and kin killed in Indravelli massacre as victim’s families don’t reveal anything.           

They won’t share any information with the non-tribals, police, and forest officials and try to avoid interacting with them. The Adivasis even hesitate to share any information with the government employees or officials when they were collecting data with regard to government schemes.             

It is very difficult to engage the Adivasi elders and children alike in discussion and elicit their views on any issue. They maintain silence and are tight- lipped.   

Even 35 years after the Indravelli police firing that took place on April 20, 1981, Adivasis are not ready to reveal the death of their family members who died in incident.

It is said that most of the deaths were suppressed by then authorities and the Adivasis also did not reveal the death of their kith and kin in the police firing due to fear of backlash and police harassment.

There is no clarity on the number of Adivasis killed in the police firing on that fateful day and how many persons died with injuries later and a number of persons missing from the day of the incident.

It is said that many bodies were found in the forests and streams in the following days and it is suspected that the panic gripped Adivasis might have tried to escape with injuries they have suffered in the police firing and succumbed to injuries.          

Adivasi leader Atram Bhujangarao who was trying to list out the Adivasis killed in the Indravelli police firing, regretted that victims’ families are not coming forward to furnish the information about the deaths as they have not forgotten the horrific incident of Indravelli and were not mingling freely with the people from the mainstream.

Adivasi remains in their homes or closes the doors on seeing police, forest officials, non- tribals or new person entering into their village or coming close to their houses and will not share any information about incident by simply saying that he or she was not present in the village or went somewhere when the incident took place.     

Adivasis leaders say more than 150 Adivasis including women died in Indravelli  police firing but the official say that only 13 Adivasis and a police constable died in the police firing on that fateful day.